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Are you willing to believe?

I’m not impressed by every inspirational quote I see on Facebook, but this one stopped me in my tracks:

note to self:
if you were able to believe in Santa Claus for 8 years,
you can believe in yourself for like 5 seconds.
OK – you got this. **

Wow.

I was immediately transported back to childhood, when my sense of wonder was fully intact and I was so willing to be inspired. I believed I could be a ballerina. I saw myself owning a horse and galloping across the beautiful countryside. Later I saw myself as a doctor, helping people heal where they hurt.

I never became a horse owner or a ballerina (although I did take lessons, and I dance until this day). The dream of becoming a doctor took forty years to come to fruition.

I don’t often talk about this, but I dropped out of undergraduate pre-med studies because I got a “C” in one of my classes. In the family I grew up in, that wasn’t acceptable: we either got As, or quit.

A silly letter of the alphabet derailed me from my dream for decades.

Only later, with lots of life under my belt, did I realize how deeply my belief in myself had been set back by an expectation that wasn’t even my own. I’m so grateful that even at that late date, I found the courage and support to take back my belief in myself, get back on the path of my dreams and graduate with that medical degree.

Has a big “C” set back your belief in yourself?

The effects of cancer are certainly more profound than a “C” on a report card. But after years of helping cancer survivors recover their health and rebuild the confidence that they, too, can live a life they love, I can say this for sure:

You once believed in yourself, even if that was long ago. Despite everything that’s happened since, you’re still wired to believe in yourself. Yes, cancer may have brought a new set of challenges to overcome. But deep down, you’re bigger than those challenges. You just have to believe you are.

Are you willing?

Your turn. Tell me below:

• What challenge did you once believe was insurmountable, that you were able to overcome? How did that feel?

Comments

I have radically altered my life circumstances several times in my life already, and I know I can do that again…for the better!
If I truly thought it possible, if I truly thought I could, I would clear cancer from my life this year. I am creating a healthy, peaceful existence for myself. That feels great and is good for everyone actually.

Congratulations, Dr Shani, on writing for the Huffington Post! And thank you for continuing to be a living example of following your dreams and staying in touch with that those are. You are inspiring me!

I’m proud of you for putting your thoughts into writing, Britta: that’s a powerful step in bringing them to fruition. You’ve made huge strides towards wellness already. Stay on the path. Believe you can be well, and take at least one step daily that demonstrates “I’m committed to being radiantly healthy.” I’m holding your wish to be cancer-free right along with you. Sending you a hug!